New Year, New Challenge, New York

I'm not a huge believer in new years resolutions, I believe that if you want something, you should do what it takes to achieve it no matter the time of year. How many resolutions have people made and how many have they actually stuck to? Why not just have a mantra you want to live by? It can become your everyday ethos which will make achieving your goals so much easier. 
Just before Christmas, a friend of mine was killed in a car crash. In his short 22 years, he had achieved things that many people who live a full life won't get to do. He wasn't afraid to live his life and he made the most out of everyday, by travelling the world and doing the things he loved to do. This tragic accident has really put things into perspective for me, that we should make the most out of our days, not just for the month of January, but for the 365 days we get each year. 
At the end of January, I have decided to move to New York for around 5 months. I know this is something my friend would have pushed me to do, just like he did before I moved to Amsterdam. I'd already made the decision to move before the accident happened, but for me, it clarified how short life really is, and I should take advantage of the opportunities that I get. 
So this year, theres no new years resolution, just a mantra I will remind myself to live by everyday. I am going to develop myself, challenge myself and make the most out of my life, because we only get one, so why not live it?